IEAG Welcomes High Court Ruling on the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Container Administrative Charge Directive; Calls for Strict Enforcement and Immediate Refund of Illegally Collected Charges

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) warmly welcomes the decision of the High Court dismissing the interlocutory injunction application filed by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) and some shipping lines seeking to restrain the implementation of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) Container Administrative Charge (CAC) Regulatory Directive.

The ruling has unequivocally affirmed that the Regulatory Directive issued by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority on 11th May 2026 remains valid, operational, and enforceable. It is a significant victory for the rule of law, regulatory certainty, and the thousands of Ghanaian importers, exporters, freight forwarders and businesses who have, over the years, borne the burden of excessive and unjustified Container Administrative Charges.

For many years, the IEAG, together with other industry stakeholders, consistently challenged the exorbitant Container Administrative Charges imposed by shipping lines. These charges, which were originally introduced under circumstances that no longer exist, continued to be levied despite the rationale behind their introduction having long outlived its usefulness. The result was an unnecessary increase in the cost of doing business, inflationary pressures, and a decline in the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses.

Recognizing these concerns, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, after extensive stakeholder engagements and regulatory review, exercised its statutory mandate by issuing the 11th May 2026 Regulatory Directive, capping the Container Administrative Charge at GH₵720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) as an interim measure pending the conclusion of broader stakeholder consultations toward a final regulated charge. The directive was intended to provide immediate relief to shippers while ensuring fairness within Ghana’s shipping and logistics industry.

Unfortunately, despite the issuance of this lawful directive, several shipping lines ignored the regulatory order and continued to charge the previous administrative fees, reportedly collecting amounts far in excess of the approved GH₵720 per TEU from unsuspecting importers and exporters while the matter was before the courts.

Now that the High Court has dismissed the injunction application and confirmed the validity of the directive, the IEAG believes there can no longer be any justification whatsoever for any shipping line to continue charging beyond the approved regulatory cap.

Accordingly, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana respectfully calls on the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to immediately commence strict enforcement of its directive without fear or favour. The Authority must demonstrate that regulatory directives issued under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act are binding on all industry players and cannot be selectively complied with.

More importantly, the IEAG urges the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to direct every shipping line and shipping agent that collected Container Administrative Charges above the approved GH₵720 per TEU from 11th May 2026 onwards to immediately account for and refund the excess amounts to the affected shippers. Where necessary, such excess collections should be paid into an account designated by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to facilitate transparent verification and subsequent reimbursement to all affected importers and exporters.

The Association firmly believes that allowing shipping lines to retain monies collected contrary to a valid regulatory directive would not only undermine public confidence in the Authority but would also amount to rewarding regulatory non-compliance at the expense of Ghanaian businesses.

Furthermore, we urge the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to invoke every enforcement mechanism available under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), against any shipping line or shipping agent found to have deliberately violated the directive. Compliance with regulatory directives must not be optional, particularly in a sector that plays such a strategic role in Ghana’s economy.

The IEAG also calls on the Ministry of Transport to provide the Ghana Shippers’ Authority with the necessary institutional, legal and political support required to effectively regulate the shipping industry and protect the interests of Ghanaian importers and exporters. A strong and independent regulator is indispensable to ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability within the country’s maritime and logistics sector.

As an Association representing the interests of Ghana’s trading community, we reiterate our unwavering support for reforms that reduce the cost of doing business, enhance transparency at the ports, improve Ghana’s trade competitiveness and protect legitimate businesses from exploitative commercial practices.

The High Court’s decision should serve as a turning point in strengthening regulatory compliance within Ghana’s shipping industry. The era where regulated entities disregard lawful directives with impunity must come to an end.

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana will continue to work closely with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and all relevant stakeholders to promote a fair, transparent, efficient and internationally competitive shipping and logistics environment that supports national economic growth.

Signed

Samson Asaki Awingobit
Executive Secretary
Tel: 0243575046